Automatic steering device.



A. T. NELSON.

AUTOMATIC STEERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 15, 1908.

1,015,061, Patented Jan. 16,1912.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

A. T. NELSON.

AUTOMATIC STEERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 312.12, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 15, 1908.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

5 1 1 6&

A. T. NELSON;

AUTOMATIC STEERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 15, 1908.

1,015,061, Patented Jan. 16,1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

AUGUST NELSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 AUTOMATIC STEERINGCOMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

AUTOMATIC STEERING DEVICE.

Application filed February 12, 1906, Serial No. 300,685.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUST '1. NELSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, State of \Visconsin,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic SteeringDevices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide simple, economical and accuratemeans whereby marine crafts may be automatically steered upon apredetermined course, the construction and arrangement being such thatthe permanent magnet of a mari ners compass primarily controls theopening or closing of electric circuits, by means of which circuits amotor in gear-connection with a crafts rudder is actuated. To change theposition of the rudder, should said craft deviate from her course, themotor being thereafter reversed to return the rudder to its normal orfore-and-aft position.

The invention therefore consists in various electrical appliances andcombinations of mechanical parts as hereinafterclearly set forth withreference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of acompass embodying certain novel features of my invention, the 'sectionbeing indicated by line ll of Fig. 3; Fig. 2, a detailed elevation ofthe arbor illustrating the contact points and guide sleeve and themethod of making and breaking the electric circuit through.

movement of the compass magnets; Fig. 3, a plan view of the compasswithparts broken away to better illustrate the novel mechanical details, andFig. 4, a diagram view of the entire apparatus embodying the features ofmy invention in connection with the various electrical circuits wherebythe apparatus is controlled.

Referring by characters to the drawings, A indicates a compass-bowlprovided with a liquid-compartment, which is located between 21 glassface-plate A and a fluted diaphragm A the diaphragm being connected toand communicating with a central well formed by a cylindrical jacket A,as shown in Fig. 1. The bowl and its connected parts fonn acompass-casing, which casing is suitably suspended in a frame thatSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16,1912.

Renewed June 15, 1908. Serial No. 438,591.

forms no part of my invention and is consequently not shown. To thelower part of the bowl is secured a head a, which head is inscrew-threaded connection with the jacket A, there being a slightlyreduced central threaded aperture in said head for "the reception of acap a This cap serves gether with the gland constitutes a stufiingbox. Aprojecting end of the arbor is provided with a hand-wheel Z), and belowwhich wheel there is fitted the hub of a depending bracket 1), saidbracket-hub being held in place by a nut b in threaded engagement withsaid arbor end. The lower end of the bracket b is also formed with a hubthat serves as a bearing for an internally screw-threaded sleeve 5 whichsleeve is concentric with the arbor aforesaid and has secured thereto athumb-nut b at the lower face of the bearing-hub, the sleeve being heldagainst vertical play by means of a flange-extension resting upon theupper face of said bearing-hub.

The arbor B is centrally bored for the reception of a pivot-post B theupper end of which ivot-postprojects beyond said arbor within theliquid-compartment of the compass-casing and terminates in a conicalhardened steel needle-point B The lower end of the pivot-post is inscrew-threaded engagement with the sleeve 5 there being a gland bthreaded into the adjacent end of the arbor. By the above constructionleakage from the liquid-compartment is prevented through the centralbore of said arbor, which. construction at the same timepermits'vertical adjustment of the pivotpost. A compass-card C and itsaccompanying permanent magnet C are suspended upon the needle-point B bymeans of a metallic hood or cap 0 which cap is secured to the magnet andis provided with a con caved steel head 0 adapted to receive saidneedle-point.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that thecompass-card has free play upon its pivot, and also ample space in theliquid-compartment A to permit of dip. The said'compass-card issubmerged into any suitable liquid, non-conductive to an electriccurrent and is provided with the usual cardinal oints and sub-divisionmarkings. A stationary centrally apertured chart 0 is secured to theouter walls of the compass-bowl to aid in setting the predeterminedcourse of a craft or vessel, this chart being a minat-ure duplicate ofthe compass-card, its marked points bein visiminals in connection withelectric-circuits be raised accordingly, thus controlling and to behereinafter described, said terminals being insulated from and carriedby a collar d secured to the upper end of the arbor. The collar (Z alsocarries an index-pointer d that serves as a guide in connection with thechart C to facilitate setting the c 0mpass-mechanism for steering in anydeslred course of a craft. The terminals (1 and d are connected by wires1 and 2, which wires pass through insulated apertures in the arbor B.The circuits which control said steering-gear are respectively closed bymeans of the contact-finger 0 engaging either of the electrodes (1 althere being a conductor-wire 3 common to both circuits connected to abinding-post d, The electrio-current passing from contact-finger 0through the cap 0, pivot-post B arbor B, and cap a to the binding-postd', which post is seated into said cap.

The flared contact-faces of the electrodes are provided in order to givemoreor less play of the contact-finger 0 depending upon the weathercondition of the sea, if for instance, it is calm the compass-cardwouldbe lowered by the pivot-post so as to reduce the play of saidfinger between the electrodes to a minimum, while if the oppositeweather condition exists, the aforesaid finger would preventing unduethrowing in or out of the steering-gear through premature closing of theelectric circuits and a consequent wabble of the vessel. The abovementioned raising or lowering of the pivot-post is accomplished throughrevolving the threaded sleeve 6 in connection therewith. This sleeve isalso revolved to raise the compasscard and its contact-finger a, inorder that the latter may be entirely disengaged from the electrodeswhen it is desired to set a vessel upon its course, in which case afterdisengaging the posts the vessel is thereafter set in the usual manner,said vessel in eitect turning upon the pivot-post of the compass, whilethe compass-card and its magnet will true course.

remain stationary, pointing on a north and south line. The arbor is thenrevolved by means of its hand-wheel 6 until the flared contact-faces ofthe electrodes are brought to a point alined with the contact finger butbelow the same, in which position the pivot-post B is lowered aspreviously described, so as to bring said finger on a horizontal planewithin the oscillating path of the electrodes, as shown in Fig. 2, itbeing understood that these electrodes travel in an are described aroundthe pivot-point of the compass-card with any sheer of the vessel to portor star-board, the position of the card remaining constant owing to itspermanent magnet.

Referring to the diagram view, Fig. 4, D indicates a vessel rudder ingear-connection, with an electric-motor D The rudderstem D has securedthereto and insulated therefrom a metallic indicator-arm f, which arm isalined with said rudder and adapted to swing in union therewith. Thefree end of the arm f is normally midway between a pair of adjustablemetallic quadrant plates f f either one of which plates is adapted toengage the said free end of the arm when the vessel-rudder is moved fromits foreand-aft position. The position of the quadrant plates may becircumferentially changed when desired to maintain theirrelativelocation to the indicator-arm f, by means of spindles P, whichspindles are swiveled in blocks f their ends being in screw-threadedengagement with the quadrant plates.

The above described mechanism constitutes a tell-tale the arm findicating at a glance the exact position of the rudder, which rudder ifbrought out of its true course will be automatically returned at theproper time through a reversal of the motor, caused by closure of anelectric-circuit due'to contact ofarm f with one of the quadrant plates.In practice, it is a well known fact that vessels have, more or lesstendency to run to star-board or port and hence it rarely occurs thatthe rudder can be set to a and weather conditions are taken into c011-sideration.

In order to guard against any disturbance of the compass caused throughthe electric current that passes there-through when a circuit is closedby either of the electrodes, I have provided a step-by-step or relaysystem of switches whereby a local circuit having a battery of slightstrength at first utilized to actuate a delicate switch by means ofmagnets, which switeh in turn closes a main battery circuit of muchgreater energy that acts directly upon magnets of a second. switch toclose the motor-circuit;

With the above objects in view I provide oppositely disposed magnets E,E having This is also the case where tide a common armature E composedof a central metallic strip g, which strip is insulated from a pair ofouter contact strips g 9 that are merged together at the fulcrumpoint ofthe armature to form a spring finger that is fastin a post. The saidarmature is normally held away from either magnet in a central positionby the spring-finger, in which position the free end of central armaturestrip 9 contacts with a binding-post 9 the contact-strips g 9 beingadapted to engage binding-posts 9 g, respectively.

The motor-controlling switch comprises a pair of oppositely disposedmagnets 1 F having a common armature comprising a fiber block, carryingarmature plates F and four contactplates h, [L If, if, these platesbeing diagonally connected by conductorwires h, 71?. These contactplates are provided for alternately closing and reversing the circuit ofthe steering-gear motor D by engaging binding-posts h, if, and 7L8, 72,when the armature is driven in either direction by the magnets F F ifenergized.

Conductor wires 1 and 2 of the local or compass-controlled circuits areconnected to magnets E, E respectively, while wire 3 is connected to alocal battery G and from thence to both magnets. The motor reversingcircuit is connected by a wire 4 from armature strip 9 to theindicator-arm f, the circuit being completed by the arm either throughquadrant plate f or f by conductor wires 4, 5, 6, which connect thequadrant plates P, f with binding-posts g and 9 These posts are alsoconnected by Wires 7 and 8 to the magnets F, F, which magnetsareconnected by wire 9 to a main battery H, which battery is alsoconnected by a wire 11 to the binding-post 9 there being another wire 14leading from said binding-post g to the strips 9 g of the armature E Theline wires X, Y of the motor circuit are connected to the contactingplates 72,, 12?, respectively, the said plates being arranged to contactwith the binding-posts 71, k These binding-posts are connected by abranched wire 12 to one of the motor brushes, the opposite motor brushbeing connected by a wire 13 to binding-posts h, k of the motor switch.

As shown in the diagram view, the compass A is illustrated as having itscontactfiuger c in section and directly connected to wire 3, theelectrodes (1, al which are disposed at either side of the finger beingdirectly connected to wires 1 and 2. This distortion of the mechanicaldetails is resorted to for the purpose of more clearly tracing thecircuits. Assuming the apparatus as illustrated in the diagram view tobe set for the course of a vessel due north, should the vessel sheer tostar-board, it will cause electrode 03 to oscillate and thereby makecontact with finger 0 The local circuit is now closed, the currentflowing from battery G over wire 3 to magnet E and back over wire 1 to,the electrode (1. The now energized magnet E will cause its armature tomake contact between strip 9 and binding-post g thereby closing the maincircuit from battery H over wire -9 to magnet F of the motor switch,completing the circuit through wire 7 to binding-post g, strip 9 and theloop wire 14 connecting this strip to post g and battery H over wire 11.motor switch armature is now drawn over by energized magnet F and closesthe motorcircuit through binding-posts h and H, which are respectivelyconnected to feedwires 12 and 13, the line wires X, Y, beingaspreviously stated connected to the plates of the armature which engagethe bindingposts h, 72?. The energized motor causes the rudder togetherwith its indicator-arm f to swing to port, as indicated by dotted lines,sufficient to start the vessel back on her truecourse. The indicator-armis'now in contact with quadrant plate f and the rudder will continue tomove slowly in the direction mentioned until such time as the vessel hassheered back to her true course sufficient-ly to break contact betweenelectrode 03 and contact-finger 0 When said contact is broken, thespring portion of the armature E causes the same to assume its normalcentral .position, this action immediately closes the reversing circuitwhich travels in the following course. Starting with battery H thecurrent passes over wire 9 to magnet F, thence by wires 8 and 5 toquadrant plate f throughindicator-arm f, wire 4 to the central strip 9of armature E and back to battery H through contact-post g and Wire 11.The energizing motor switch magnet F now draws its armature over therebymaking contact with posts k and h. This directs the current from linewire X over wire it to binding-post h and wire 13 to the motor,returning through wire 12 binding-post k and out over the line wire Y,the motor is thus reversed and will quickly restore the rudder to itsforeand-aft position, it being understood that when the circuit isbroken in either of thmotor-switch magnets, the armature thereof willassume a neutral central position through spring-connection F as shown.

Ope complete method of wirin for obtainlng the desired electric'circuitsnecessary in the operation of my invent-ion is described, it beingunderstood that the same may be varied in accordance with Well knownprinciples of electric engineering and I therefore do not wish to limitmy invention to the arrangement of circuits herein shown and described.

While I have shown and described the compass-mechanism as operating toclose The circuits increasing in strength by steps in order to actuate arudder, it will be readily 'seenthat in applying the apparatusto torallinstances is the depending contact-ar-- rangement in connection with apermanent magnet whereby the contacting-members are constantly within acommon plane so as to be engaged by oscillation of the member or membersnot carried by the magnet; By this construction the normal position ofthe magnet is not disturbed and the action of the apparatus becomesentirely automatic and not dependent upon any timed mechanism toascertain the true course of the vessel.

I claim:

1. A magnetic steering apparatus comprising a liquid containinghowl, arotatorily adjustable hollow arbor extending into the bowl, a pair ofelectrodes carried by the arbor, a pivot-post mounted in the hollowarbor, a permanent magnet provided with a compass cardmounted upon theend of the pivot-post within the liquid containing bowl, a contactfinger carried thereby arranged to engage either one of the-electrodes,means for varying the relative vertical position of the finger andelectrodes, a steering gear, a motor therefor, and an electric circuithaving terminals connecting the electrodes and contact finger forcontrolling the steering gear motor.

2.-A- magnetic steering apparatus com- I prising a compass having a makeand break mechanism,'a steering gear, a motor therefor, an electriccontrolling circuit for the motor, a motor-controlling switch in thecircuit, a magnetically-controlled relay switch, a local circuitconnecting the make and break mechanism of the compass and relay.switch, a make. and break indicator mechanism in connection with thesteering gear, and a motor-reversing circuit connecting the make andbreak indicator mechanism, relay switch and motor controlling switch,whereby said motor is reversed incidental to opening the local circuitby the compass carried make and break mechanism.

3. A- magnetic steering apparatus comprising a mariners compass having acard and attached magnet, a pivot-post for the card, a contact fingercarried by said card, a

' pair of electrodes normally, disposed in the path of travel of thecontact finger, means for effecting rotator adjustment of theelectrodes, means for e ecting disengagement of said electrodes from.their normal contact the controlling switch of the motor circuit,

the local circuit being under control of the electrodes and contactfinger of the compass, a magnetically controlled relay switch in thelocal circuit, and conductors connecting the motor-controlling switch,relay switch, indicator arm and its contact plates, whereby the motor isreversed incidental to a break in the local circuit when the indicatorarm is in contact with either one of its contact plates.

.4. A magnetic steering apparatus comprising a compass having acircuit-closing mechanism, a motor, a steering gear in connection withthe motor, an indicator arm carried by the steering gear, contact platesarranged in the path of travel of the indicator arm, a motor circuit, amagneticallycontrolled motor switch for the motor circuit, a motorswitch circuit, a local circuit in connection with the circuit-closingmech-' anism of the compass, a magnetically controlled relay switch inthe local circuit, and conductors in connection with the indicator arm,its contact plates, motor-switch and magnetically controlled relayswitch whereby the motor circuit current is reversed incidental to abreak inthe local circuit through the compass circuit-closing mechanism.

5. A magnetic steering apparatus comprising a mariners compass having acard and attached magnet, a cap carried by the "card, a pivot-post forthe cap, a contact finger extending from the cap, a pair of ad justableelectrodes normally disposed in the path of travel of the contactfinger, a steering gear, an indicator arm carried thereby,

contact plates disposed'in the path of travel of the indicator arm, anelectric motor for the steering gear, a relay armature provided withinsulated outer contact strips, magnets disposed upon opposite sides ofthe armature, alocal circuit connecting the magnets, electrodes andcontact finger of the compass,

a contact post arranged to normally engage the armature, other contactposts disposed upon opposite sides of the armature adapted to be engagedby the outer contact strips thereof, a main battery connecting that contact post which normally engages the armature, a conductor connectingsaid posts and outer contact strips of the armature, aconductorconnecting the armature and indicator arm, conductorsconnecting the indicator contact plates and contact posts upon oppositesides of the armature, a motor-con- I trolling switch comprising anarmature having oppositely disposed pairs of contact plates, the platesof each pair being crossconnected to the opposite pair, magnets forcontrolling the armature, conductors connecting the magnets and mainbattery, other conductors connecting the magnets and contact posts uponopposite sides of the relay switch armature, a binding-post for eachcontact plate of the motor-controlling armature, a conductor connectingeach pair of the binding-posts with the motor, and line wires connectingone pair of the contact plates of said motor-controlling armature.

6: A magnetic steering system comprising a permanent magnet, a ivot postfor the magnet, a pair of electro es rotatorily adjustable about thepivot post, a circuit closer depending from the magnet constantly in thepath of travel of the electrodes, and an electric circuit for thesteering gear connecting the electrodes and said circuit closer.

In a magnetic steering apparatus; the combination of a permanentmagnet,a pivotpost therefor, a finger carried by the magnet, a pair ofelectrodes having vertically disposed flared contact faces adapted to beengaged b the finger, and means for varying the r ative verticalposition of the finger and electrodes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of; two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST T. NELSON.

Witnesses:

I. A. FORREST, E. C. SCHNECK.

